By Jule’ Dunham
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Millington Star is introducing a regular real estate column provided by local broker Jule’ Dunham.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Julè Dunham, Affiliate Broker with Crye-Leike Realtors in Atoka; however, I reside in Millington.
Continued education in real estate is a must to stay up to date on the latest information and trends. My designation as Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) is certain to help our baby boomers and empty nesters through their next transition.
I am a member of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors, Tennessee Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and Millington Chamber of Commerce.
Your life may be made a little easier with my addressing real estate issues and ideas which should help you regarding areas such as: how to better prepare for buying or selling your home, tips for tasks such as cleaning, preparing for moving, maintaining your home and various other topics.
Today, I would like to share some information that I learned in a class on “mold”. It may seem a little odd to address this issue right from the start; however, this is a topic of great importance not only to our property, but our health.
Mold is e v e r y w h e r e! Can you believe it? It is everywhere! Mold needs 3 things to grow – air, food, and moisture. There are various types of mold, but today, I will address the mold in our bathroom shower and tub area.
Most of us have been convinced that bleach is the answer to cleaning the grout/caulking in our bathrooms.
Not only is bleach toxic, it does not kill the roots of mold. While it may be effective in certain applications, it will not exonerate mold on a porous surface and can actually contribute negatively to certain mold problems.
Hard to believe isn’t it? Bleach also loses its effectiveness over time. The older bleach may end up only partially killing the surface mold and create a bigger problem.
The best thing to use to kill mold is peroxide. You may also use vinegar or baking soda. Personally, I cleaned the area with Dawn first, rinsed well, blotted dry, and then sprayed the peroxide on the affected area.
I also squeegee after every shower daily. This helps speed the drying process which reduces the moisture that mold needs to grow. A fan blowing in the area will also help dry it faster.
The bonus of peroxide over bleach is the smell. Bleach is harmful when inhaled and peroxide has no smell. You’ve got to love that as well as the nice clean shower tub area!
Wipe down countertops in both the bathroom and kitchen as well.
Mold is a serious issue and should be taken seriously. Consider contacting a professional mold remediation company or a mold expert to advise you on the best course of action.
If you do decide to clean up the mold yourself, research and do your due diligence before choosing a chemical to clean it.
Julè Dunham, Affiliate Broker, SRES. Contact her by phone at 901-828-8471 or by email to: [email protected] for an appointment to speak with you, your group or club. “Let’s Make This Happen Together”
